It has been our strong conviction in Cagayan State University that the best way forward is through convergence. Scarce resources are multiplied, and missions are best achieved, when government agencies and instrumentalities converge for a common goal and are guided by one concrete vision.

When one agency performs its mandate alongside other agencies with related mandates within a bigger Convergent purpose, great things are bound to happen. Greater than simply adding existing resources manpower OR logistics. Because in Convergence, people will be better motivated and inspired to realize that they are part of an enterprise that goes beyond the mere Confines of their respective agencies. If we put people in a situation where they become part of something bigger - opportunity for high ideals to be exemplified arises - It will instruct- for instance - all participants of the values of Mutual Aid, or the Filipino concept of bayanihan, the ancient excellence 0f the Filipino soul that sustained us as a people throughout the centuries of our existence.

Alam ng Pilipino na hindi natin kaya ang laban kung tayo ay mag-isa. Scattered in the pages of our history is our ability to survive significant existential challenges because we mutually aid each other. Using this lesson in our history and story as a people, we could all move forward mutually aiding and benefiting each other.

The story of the partnership between DTI, CSU, DOST, and various agencies, in DTI's HIGH FIVE program, or the Harnessing Innovations for Greener Harvest through Farm Implements Viable Enterprises, with the University is strongly grounded on this premise. Every convergent partner has a crucial role to perform- objectives to achieve and sacrifices to make all within its mandate.

When the DTI - through MS. ZENY QUINTO - first approached CSU Carig to discuss the possibility of a partnership designed to sustain the development of our local metal fabricators - the question of funding was never a sticky issue. We know right away that what we have before our very eyes is an opportunity that the Campus and the University must take and must be willing to invest- I strongly believe then that to share the cost of the enterprise is of strategic significance for the University in the long term. And we could proceed swiftly because we have already in place an integrative approach of evaluating projects with other government agencies

We immediately realize that this will fall squarely within our mandates of Instruction, Research, Extension, and Production, as clearly provided for in our Charter, and in the provisions of Republic Act No. 8292.

We clarify this point further. The kind of technology that we could generate and roll out, and their results and impacts to communities, are highly researchable topics, and as such, they will encourage faculty and student researches. This, clearly, will surely promote our Research mandate. Outputs, such as prototypes and other industrial designs, are expected to be utilized to demonstrate concepts and theories, therefore, enriching Instruction in the classrooms. Improvement and growth of the metal fabrication in Tuguegarao City, and in other towns and communities in the Province, will surely satisfy our Extension mandate. And the joint ownership of patents and copyright will provide the University the reasonable chance of generating substantial Income, thereby achieving our Production mandate.

Furthermore, the proposed project, will strengthen, and will give content and context, to our existing DOST CSU Metal Innovation Center which was established through the assistance and support of DOST Asec. URDUJA TEJADA - and now strongly supported by DOST Director SANCHO MABBORANG.

In the long run, we thought, we will have a very good Return of Investment if the project proceeds without making initial funding standing on the way.

Allow me to revisit another framework which allowed for this convergence.

One of the landmark contribution of the Presidency of DR. ROMEO QUILANG is the introduction of the ONE COLLEGE ONE MUNICIPALITY extension modality. This strengthens opportunities for convergence - it strengthens our community services as it gives Colleges and Campuses specific towns to assist. In the case of CSU Carig, for instance, we are tasked primarily to assist Tuguegarao, Solana, Peñablanca, Iguig, and Amulung. The performance of the College, under the One College One Municipality, is given another key result indicator: the development of its adopted communities. The modality allows us to transfer skills and technologies from our Research and Development and Innovation centers directly to peoples and communities.

With the DTI HIGH FIVE, the University will facilitate the attainment of the very objective of its One College One Municipality Extension modality, as metal fabricators in many towns in Cagayan will be benefitted, and so will be the recipients and users of the highly innovative farm implements to be developed under the convergent program.

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With this in mind, we therefore present the following framework of our very own version of HIGH FIVE with the DTI. It is not yet perfect, but I sincerely hope that it captures what we intend to do:

We start with the fact that in the University, we already have the DOST CSU Metal Innovation Center. Through the Center, the University and DOST have agreed to pursue R&D Funding for metals research. The Department has already provided trainings to our manpower and equipment for our laboratory and workshop needs.

It is also noted that we have our Food Innovation Center. Prototypes may be designed to improve existing food innovation equipment and to mass produce them in order to further support the success of the FIC. Without the machines, we cannot translate food products developed into commercial items.

In our MOU with the DTI, it was agreed that the University will utilize faculty and student researchers in developing prototypes of farm implements that better solve existing agricultural problems and issues, and which, ideally, incorporate design suggestions and recommendations from our farmers as actual users of the technology.

The Campus has just recently proposed for the construction of a 2-storey Metal Innovation Center Building that will best provide for an area where concepts are turned into prototypes that could be tested. Through research proposals on metal fabrication, the Campus will support the activity by way of providing for R&D Funding. It will likewise work for Intellectual Property Application of all outputs created through the endeavor. This will protect the interest of product creators, participating agencies, fabricators and SMEs.

The DTI shall undertake to provide funding for the provision of raw materials necessary for the fabrication of prototypes. It will also coordinate with the Metal Industry Sector for the Marketing of Outputs, Purchase of Products and their Promotion as SSF.

The local metal fabricators will do the MASS PRODUCTION of marketable or viable products or outputs. These are pre-ordered implements by adopters of the technology developed.

The Department of Agriculture, among many others, may consider, later on supporting the program by adopting the products developed and marketed, and distributing them and encouraging their use among our farmers. We intend to subject our products to testing standards required by the agencies.

The Local Government Units may do the same for products they think satisfy their respective requirements and purposes. The Center, however, will not do the selling of the outputs. It will be the role of the SMEs.

III.

It is easy to see that under this convergent framework, the participating agencies, most especially the University and Carig Campus, in particular, will play a very important role in making the presence of the Government felt by the people in the community level. The agencies, coming together for this noble endeavor, will be empowered as they seek the empowerment of the communities and peoples they serve.

All of us, armed with this blue print, will be encouraged to become one of the true partners for development in the Province of Cagayan.

For us in the University, it shall be one of our genuine and timely responses to the perpetual challenge for the Cagayan State University on how to give meaning and breadth life to her mandate of educating the countryside.